Begonia plant named ‘Victoria Falls’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Victoria Falls’, characterized by its compact, pendulous and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; pubescent leaves; and numerous double flowers that are bright orange in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia pendula.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Victoria Falls’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia pendula, commercially known as hybrid tuberose Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Victoria Falls’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Amstelveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching hybrid tuberose Begonia cultivars with numerous brightly-colored flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in December, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Begonia pendula identified as code number 03-H-27, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia pendula identified as code number 03-66-3, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Amstelveen, The Netherlands in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Amstelveen, The Netherlands since July, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Victoria Falls’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Victoria Falls’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, pendulous and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Pubescent leaves.     -   4. Numerous double flowers that are bright orange in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have pubescent leaves whereas         plants of the female parent selection have glabrous leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   4. Flower color of plants of the new Begonia is more intense         than flower color of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are larger than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are lighter green in         color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia have more tepals than         flowers of plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the Begonia ‘Encanto Orange’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had shorter and broader leaves than         plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had pubescent leaves whereas plants         of ‘Encanto Orange’ had glabrous leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia had double flowers whereas plants         of ‘Encanto Orange’ had single flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Begonia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia were darker orange in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Victoria Falls’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 12-cm containers and under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring and summer. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C and maximum light levels were 18,000 lux. Plants had been growing for four months when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia pendula ‘Victoria Falls’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             pendula identified as code number 03-H-27, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             pendula identified as code number 03-66-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at temperatures of             about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 14 to 18 days at             temperatures of about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color. Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, pendulous and mounded             plant habit; freely basal branching with about five to six             primary branches per plant; primary branches with secondary             branches at potentially every node. Moderately vigorous and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 35 cm to 40 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 173B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 8 cm to 12 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:             Deltoid to ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obliquely cordate.             Margin: Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent; rough. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate.             Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 132C; venation, close to 136C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 131D; venation,             close to 136C. Petioles: Length: About 5 cm to 7 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 132C.             Color, lower surface: Close to 131D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rounded double flowers with numerous tepals             arranged in cymes. Freely flowering habit with about four to             five flowers and flower buds per cyme. Flowers pendulous and             face mostly outwardly or downward.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four weeks on the             plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescences.—Height: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About             7 cm to 9 cm.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Depth (height): About             1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm.             Diameter: About 2. cm to 3 cm. Color: Close to 33B.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually             about 10 to 15 per flower arranged in several whorls.             Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 4 cm.             Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex: Rounded, obtuse. Base:             Cordate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 33B. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 33A; color does not fade with             development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Length:             About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire; undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144D; towards the margin, close to             35A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145B; towards the             margin, close to 35A.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm to 4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 179B.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 90° from the peduncle. Strength:             Moderately strong. Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close             to 168D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens and pistils not observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Begonia has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Victoria Falls’ as illustrated and described. 